Fifth day. Attended our preparative meeting, and it being the one preceding our quarterly meeting, the queries were to be answered. As one of the overseers was likely to be necessarily absent from the preparative meeting, they met a day or two previous thereto, and prepared essays of answers; and the one who attended, produced them to the meeting at the time of entering upon reading and answering the queries. As I had long believed, from observation and experience, that this method was inconsistent with the nature of our profession, and right order of our discipline, as well as in its tendency very hurtful and weakening to the meeting, my mind was very much exercised on the occasion; and the more so, in finding several Friends willing to adopt the practice: but, after the matter had been pretty fully spoken to, under a weight of concern, Friends agreed to lay the essays aside, and not notice them; which was a considerable relief to my mind.
Sixth and seventh days. Passed without any thing particular to notice.
First day, the 16th. My mind was brought under a renewed exercise in our meeting, from a view and consideration of the very small improvement and progress made by a great portion of our society in religious experience, when compared with the opportunities they were so abundantly favoured with from time to time. It led to a communication on the subject, which was introduced by a revival of Paul’s reprehension of the Hebrews: “For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God: and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat.” The subject spread, and brought a solemn weight over the meeting, and Friends were pressingly excited to greater diligence in the right improvement of their precious time; that so when the day of solemn inquisition comes, they may be prepared to give in their account with joy, and receive the desired and peaceful answer of: “well done thou good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy Lord.”
Our monthly meeting was held on fifth day; and, I think, the business was well and harmoniously conducted. The rest of the week I was busily employed in my usual vocations; and divers things occurred, which induced gratitude and thankfulness of heart to the blessed Author of all our mercies.
First day, the 23d. A silent meeting to-day. What a precious thing it is, to be taught to know when to speak, and when to be silent.
Our quarterly meeting was held this week at Flushing. It was, I think, through the several sittings, a searching, instructive, favoured season. In the meeting of Ministers and Elders, and meeting for discipline, many of the hidden things of Esau, or the first nature, were searched out and made manifest; and their inconsistency with the gospel dispensation, and hurtful tendency, exposed; particularly that of coveting and grasping after riches; to obtain which, many of the members of our society had launched into extensive business, more particularly in the line of commerce, and, in order to carry it on, had involved themselves in debt beyond their ability to pay; and, to keep up a false credit, had, by a show of friendship, and a deceptive appearance of having great possessions, drawn in others to lend them money, and become their sureties for large sums; until both the borrower and lender were involved in utter ruin, to the great scandal of themselves, the distress of their families, and reproach of our holy profession. Others there were, who, for want of keeping close to the foundation principle of our profession, the inward divine light, and faithful testimony-bearer in the heart and conscience, had given way to busy themselves, and take a part in, the political disputes and controversies among the people, relative to the governments of this world; which at this time ran high, and had produced war and distress in the land; by which, they not only grieved their concerned Friends, but brought much reproach upon themselves and their profession. My mind was deeply exercised on account of these things; and I was constrained to bear a full and faithful testimony against all such inconsistent and unchristian conduct; and to call Friends’ attention to the necessity of a more close adherence to the internal principle of divine light and truth, as the only sure Director and Preserver, in times of trial.
The closing meeting, held for worship, was eminently favoured with the Divine presence; and the concurring testimonies borne, gave evidence of his presiding power; and his great name was supplicated, and gratitude and thanksgiving were rendered to him for his continued mercy.
First day, the 30th. In the forepart of our meeting to-day, my mind seemed clothed with great weakness, and much interrupted by the continued succession of unnecessary and unprofitable thoughts: but as I continued to endeavour to draw my attention from them, although to little effect, till towards the close of the meeting, my mind was unexpectedly arrested with a subject very interesting to every immortal soul, that of coming to believe in, and become settled on, the eternal and unchangeable rock of salvation, Christ the divine light, as prophesied of, not only as “a light to lighten the Gentiles,” but to be God’s salvation to the ends of the earth. The subject spread, accompanied with life; which, as communicated under the influence thereof, spread over the meeting, and it became a comfortable refreshing season. It was evidently the Lord’s doing, and worthy of thankful acknowledgment, for the unmerited mercy.
Second, third, and fourth days. Busily employed with my workmen, assisting them in securing our corn, &c. It was a bountiful crop, which made the labour pleasant, and the heart thankful.
Fifth day. At our meeting to-day, which was larger than usual, occasioned by the marriage of one of my daughters, I was led to set forth, by public testimony, the excellency of the divine fear, and its blessed and salutary effects on the minds of those, who live daily under an humbling sense thereof; and, by the persuasive language of entreaty, endeavoured to arrest the minds of the tender and beloved youth present, with a sense of the necessity of having it to dwell richly in their hearts, as the only sure means of preservation, from the many evils and temptations which abound in the world. A comfortable calm was brought over the meeting, a fit preparative for the quiet and orderly accomplishment of the intended marriage. It was cause of thankfulness to my mind, having been favoured to have four daughters, out of five, agreeably married, in the comely order of Friends: the other, yet single, a tender precious young woman, observing with pious submission her parents’ counsel. But this is a blessing which few parents enjoy, except those who live under a daily concern, with timely and continued care, to watch over and nurture their tender offspring in the fear of the Lord.